11 Winners of the 2025 Manila Symphony Orchestra (MSO) Concerto Competition Set to Perform in a Concert at the GSIS Theater on October 15, 2025

Witness the next generation of rising Filipino music stars ! Eleven young musicians from all over the country were chosen from a field of 48 entries who participated at the recent Manila Symphony Orchestra Concerto 

Competitions. 

The winning soloists are:

LEVEL A: 12 years old and below

1. Eliana Jimenez Mariano, 10 to perform Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E Minor, 3rd Movement

2. Andrei Johann B. Lagda, 10 to perform Carl Stamitz’s Flute Concerto in G Major, 1st Movement

3. Lois Quitane, 11 to perform Lalo’s Symphonie Espagnole, 1st Movement 

LEVEL B: 13–18 years old

1. Megan Phuan Zhiyan, 13 to perform Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 13 in C major, 1st Movement

2. Maura Mikaela Medina, 18 Saint Saens’ Violin Concerto No. 3 in B-minor

3. Vittorio Vicenzo G. Vizcocho V, 16 to perform Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor, 1st Movement

4. Zildjian Zachary N. Viray, 18 to perform Liszt’s Piano Concerto no. 1 in E-flat 

major, 1st Movement

5. William Hsu, 18 Paganini’s Violin Concerto No. 1, Op. 6 in D major, 1st 

Movement

6. Agung Dayaw A. Sicam, 18 Mozart’s Concierto Aranjuez, 2nd Movement

LEVEL C: 19–25 years old

1. Joshua Agapito, 25 to perform Mozart’s Flute Concerto in G Major K313, 1st Movement

2. Rey John C. Flores, 22 to perform Mozart’s Flute Concerto No. 2 in D Major, 1st movement

The jury who selected the winners are as follows

1. Prof. Alessio Benvenuti, MSO Concertmaster, violinist and pianist

2. Ms. Mariel Ilusorio, Filipina concert pianist and teacher

3. Prof. Arnold Josue, MSO Principal cellist and educator

4. Mr. Marc Ramirez, bassist and MSO Assistant Executive Director

5. Mr. Angelo Mateo, MSO Principal Flutist

6. Mr. Adrian Sison, MSO Principal Trumpet

7. Prof. Ramoncito Carpio, Filipino classical guitarist, composer and educator

The MSO Concerto Competition was a program that was started in the 1960s whose former winners include Cecile Licad, Raul Sunico, Corazon Pineda-Kabayao, 

Cecilia Basilio-Roxas and many other distinguished Filipino artists. This year’s 

revival of this tradition is one of MSO’s long list of programs and activities as it prepares to celebrate its 100th Anniversary in 2026.

The winners will be rehearsing with the MSO conducted by its executive director and associate conductor Jeffrey Solares, and will be presented in a Concert of Winners on October 15, 2025 at the 

GSIS Theater - 7:30 PM. 

TICKETS:

Orchestra Center P2000

Orchestra Sides P1000

Balcony P500. 

Tickets now available at Ticketworld!

https://premier.ticketworld.com.ph/shows/show.aspx...

50% off for Students

20% off for Seniors and PWDs

#MSO #MSOConcertoCompetition2025

#ConcertofWinners #MSORoadTo100

90 minutes to prove his innocence or face execution. Watch the official trailer of “Mercy,” starring Chris Pratt and Rebecca Ferguson

Coming soon in PH cinemas

An A.I. program is now judge, jury, and executioner in “Mercy,” the newest sci-fi thriller starring Chris Pratt and Rebecca Ferguson. In the near future, a detective  (Chris Pratt) stands on trial accused of murdering his wife. He has 90 minutes to prove his innocence to the advanced A.I. Judge (Rebecca Ferguson) he once championed, before it determines his fate. 

Watch the trailer: https://youtu.be/sdV4DDalhL4

WATCH LIVE: HONOR X7d Launch on Facebook — Win a Brand-New Phone!

Watch the arrival of HONOR X7d live on Facebook and get a chance to win it! 

Leading global smart devices provider HONOR Philippines is all set for the arrival of its newest viral smartphone HONOR X7d! In anticipation of the launch, it entices HONOR fans to watch its launch live on Facebook on October 14, 6PM to win a brand-new HONOR X7d: https://bit.ly/X7dLaunch_FB.  

PalawanPay Supports UP Fighting Maroons as Primary Sponsor for UAAP Season 88

PalawanPay, from the trusted Palawan Group of Companies, reaffirmed its commitment to youth and sports development as the primary sponsor of the University of the Philippines (UP) Men’s Basketball, Judo, and Swimming Teams for UAAP Season 88. This partnership was highlighted during the “Sugod, UP! UAAP Season 88 Pep Rally” held at the University Theater in UP Diliman. Sharing a deep-rooted love for the country and a passion for nurturing Filipino talent, and with Sports Development as one of its corporate social responsibility pillars, PalawanPay continues to support the UP Fighting Maroons, a team that embodies the same spirit of national pride and commitment to honor and excellence. 

Organized by the UP Office for Athletics and Sports Development (OASD), the pep rally brought together the UP community — students, faculty, staff, and alumni — in a spirited display of support for the Fighting Maroons. The event featured high-energy performances, athlete introductions, and words of encouragement, all reinforcing the university’s drive for strength, perseverance, and excellence this season.

Beko shares four smart kitchen and laundry hacks for the busy holiday host

Paskong Pinoy is a whirlwind of tradition and get-togethers, which can be a good deal of challenge even for the most dedicated hosts. The quest to curate the perfect holiday experience, from a sumptuous feast to a sparkling home, can often leave them feeling overwhelmed. So this year, the key is to achieve convenience and efficiency for a seamless celebration.

Beko, from the no. 1 large home appliance company from Europe, understands the dilemma of Filipino homes, especially at the most wonderful and busiest time of the year. To help homemakers survive the holiday hosting season, here are some simple hacks to try out:

'ECHOES OF CROATIA IN THE PHILIPPINES' concert all set on October 14

The Far Eastern University Center for the Arts and the FEU Institute of Arts and Sciences (IAS), in partnership with the soon to open Embassy of Croatia in Manila, proudly present "ECHOES OF CROATIA in the Philippines."

Set your eyes and ears on 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘇𝘁𝗲𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗱𝗮, 

a 14-year-old Filipina prodigy and Croatia’s Got Talent 2023 winner, as she captivates you with her stunning voice alongside internationally acclaimed Croatian artists — 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗮 𝗧𝗸𝗮𝗹č𝗶ć (mezzo-soprano) and 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗷𝗲𝗹 𝗢𝘁𝗼 (pianist, educator, and chamber musician). 

Experience an afternoon filled with harmony that bridges nations on

October 14, 3:00 pm at the FEU Auditorium. 

Chriztel Renae Aceveda, a 14-year-old soprano originally from Pampanga, Philippines, has been living in Sveti Martin na Muri, Croatia since 2020. She first captured the hearts of the public with her interpretation of a traditional Međimurje folk song on Supertalent, and has continued to delight audiences across Croatia ever since. From the age of five, she showed a passion for music, singing karaoke with her mother. In Croatia, she quickly embraced the local culture, especially the region’s musical heritage and traditional attire. Chriztel is an 8th-grade student at Primary School Sveti Martin na Muri, a member of the school choir and part of the local cultural and artistic society HKUU Sveti Martin. She studies voice in the preparatory program of the Varaždin Music School under the guidance of Blanka Tkalčić. Her performances of authentic Međimurje folk songs have been compared to the legendary "Aunt Liza", and her emotional expressiveness leaves audiences breathless. She has performed at numerous traditional music events, charity concerts, and public festivals, including collaborations with Croatia's folk music icon Lidija Bajuk. She won the Supertalent show, the Prvi glas Zagorja contest, the Mali MEF Grand Prix, and first prize at the Brežice Festival in Slovenia. Through her singing, Chriztel celebrates her second homeland—Croatia—while remaining proudly connected to her Filipino roots. 

Japanese Film Festival 2025 is Back at UPFI—and Making Its SM City Manila Debut!

Following the success of its first Metro Manila leg at Shangri-La Plaza, the Japanese Film Festival (JFF) 2025 returns to one of its longtime partner venues—the UPFI Cine Adarna—and, for the first time, expands its reach to SM City Manila, marking an exciting milestone for the festival’s growing audience in the capital. 

Previously closed for renovations during JFF’s February run, the UPFI Cine Adarna now reopens its doors with a full lineup of Japanese cinema. From October 10 to 18, audiences can enjoy eight days of screenings featuring 12 films, a mix of contemporary titles and restored classics that highlight the depth and diversity of Japanese filmmaking. 

Ethan Hawke is out for revenge, resurrected as the Grabber in “Black Phone 2”

In PH cinemas Oct 15

Villains who leave a mark rarely stay buried, and in Black Phone 2, Ethan Hawke reprises his role as The Grabber, seeking out revenge from beyond the grave. “I wouldn’t have done it if Ethan was not willing to return,” writer-producer-director Scott Derrickson says. “He agreed to it before there was a script, which showed a surprising amount of trust in me. I recognized the appeal of bringing back the Grabber as a ghost.”

Black Phone 2 tells the tale of siblings Finn (Mason Thames) and Gwen (Madeleine McGraw), as they struggle to reclaim their lives four years after the events of the previous film. Gwen starts receiving calls in her dreams from the black phone, and receives visions of three boys being stalked at a winter camp known as Alpine lake. The siblings relive their nightmare when they visit the camp as the Grabber, now more powerful in death, seeks out vengeance.

Bossjob Accelerates Global Growth and Strengthens Philippine Presence with New Partnerships and Employer Wins

Bossjob, the chat-first, AI-powered career platform, continues its strong growth trajectory across Southeast Asia and beyond, powered by steady user expansion, breakthrough product innovations, and new employer partnerships that reinforce its role as a trusted hiring platform for the future of work.

From January to August 2025, Bossjob achieved remarkable global adoption, generating more than 1.7 million monthly chats between job seekers and employers. This surge in engagement highlights the success of its AI-driven, chat-first hiring model, which provides faster, smarter, and more efficient talent matching.

“Our vision has always been to make hiring seamless for both talents and employers. These milestones show that Bossjob is not only growing steadily but also transforming the way recruitment works across markets,” said Kiat How Quak, Co-Founder of Bossjob.

Beauty + Health & Wellness Manila and Hotel & Foodservice Suppliers Show Brings Hospitality and Well-Being In One Venue

What's better than have all what you need in one place, Global-Link MP Events International, Inc. successfully staged the Beauty + Health & Wellness Manila 2025 and the Hotel & Foodservice Suppliers Show at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia, gathering over 250 brands across 10,000 square meters of exhibition space.

Designed as a hub for trade, innovation, and collaboration, the twin expos brought together decision-makers, suppliers, and entrepreneurs from across the beauty, wellness, hospitality, and foodservice industries — setting the stage for stronger cross-sector growth.